Pelopidas   

and base, at the appearance of approaching danger, as to suspect or
blame him; and therefore desired him not to involve his son, but to
set him out of harm's way: that so he, perhaps escaping the tyrant's
power, might live to revenge the city and his friends. Charon, however,
refused to remove him, and asked, "What life, what safety could be
more honourable, than to die bravely with his father and such generous
companions?" Thus, imploring the protection of the gods, and saluting
and encouraging them all, he departed, considering with himself, and
composing his voice and countenance, that he might look as little
like as possible to what in fact he really was.
When he was come to the door, Archias with Phillidas came out to him,
and said, "I have heard, Charon, that there are some men just come,
and lurking in the town, and that some of the citizens are resorting
to them." Charon was at first disturbed, but asking, "Who are they?
and who conceals them?" and finding Archias did not thoroughly understand
the matter, he concluded that none of those privy to the design had
given this information, and replied, "Do not disturb yourselves for
an empty rumour: I will look into it, however, for no report in such
a case is to be neglected." Phillidas, who stood by, commended him,
and leading back Archias, got him deep in drink, still prolonging
the entertainment with the hopes of the women's company at last. But
when Charon returned, and found the men prepared, not as if they hoped
for safety and success, but to die bravely and with the slaughter
of their enemies, he told Pelopidas and his friends the truth, but
pretended to others in the house that Archias talked to him about
something else, inventing a story for the occasion. This storm was
just blowing over, when fortune brought another; for a messenger came
with a letter from one Archias, the Hierophant at Athens, to his namesake
Archias, who was his friend and guest. This did not merely contain
a vague conjectural suspicion, but, as it appeared afterwards, disclosed
every particular of the design. The messenger being brought in to
Archias, who was now pretty well drunk, and delivering the letter,
said to him, "The writer of this desired it might be read at once;
it is on urgent business." Archias, with a smile, replied, "Urgent
business tomorrow," and so receiving the letter, he put it under his
pillow, and returned to what he had been speaking of with Phillidas,
and these words of his are a proverb to this day amongst the Greeks.
Now when the opportunity seemed convenient for action, they set out
in two companies; Pelopidas and Damoclides with their party went against
Leontidas and Hypates, that lived near together; Charon and Melon
against Archias and Philip, having put on women's apparel over their
breastplates, and thick garlands of fir and pine to shade their faces;
and so, as soon as they came to the door, the guests clapped and gave
an huzza, supposing them to be the women they expected. But when the
conspirators had looked about the room, and carefully marked all that
were at the entertainment, they drew their swords, and making at Archias
and Philip amongst the tables, disclosed who they were. Phillidas
persuaded some few of his guests to sit still, and those that got
up and endeavoured to assist the polemarch, being drunk, were easily
despatched. But Pelopidas and his party met with a harder task; as
they attempted Leontidas, a sober and formidable man, and when they
came to his house found his door shut, he being already gone to bed.
They knocked a long time before any one would answer, but at last,
a servant that heard them, coming out and unbarring the door, as soon
as the gate gave way, they rushed in, and, overturning the man, made
all haste to Leontidas's chamber. But Leontidas, guessing at the matter
by the noise and running, leaped from his bed and drew his dagger,
but forgot to put out the lights, and by that means make them fall
foul of one another in the dark. As it was, being easily seen by reason
of the light, he received them at his chamber door and stabbed Cephisodorus,
the first man that entered: on his falling, the next that he engaged
was Pelopidas; and the passage being narrow and Cephisodorus's body
lying in the way, there was a fierce and dangerous conflict. At last
Pelopidas prevailed, and having killed Leontidas, he and his companions